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Hi Matthew,
Monarchs do come up from the Canaries and have been seen coming off the water by sea-watching birders, but the distribution of isolated sightings far inland this year points strongly to release/escape origin.
Best Wishes, Neil

I think that escapes and accidental introductios are probably more common than we realise especially with people often visiting several sites during a single day. I recollect one instances years ago after I had visited Prees Heath, when I got home I noticed a small butterfly fluttering around in the back window of the car .. it was a female Silver-studded Blue. How it had got into the car I do not know but I drove straight back to Prees Heath to release it.

Monarchs do come up from the Canaries and have been seen coming off the water by sea-watching birders, but the distribution of isolated sightings far inland this year points strongly to release/escape origin.

To the best of my knowledge, the Monarch foodplant, Milkweed, won’t grow in our climate.

Have Monarchs anywhere in the world adapted to using foodplants OTHER than Milkweeds? If they were able to feed on a plant that grows in Britain, then I suppose it is conceivable that they could become established along parts of the south coast or the Scilly Isles.

Jack

Wildmoreway

I recollect one instances years ago after I had visited Prees Heath, when I got home I noticed a small butterfly fluttering around in the back window of the car .. it was a female Silver-studded Blue. How it had got into the car I do not know but I drove straight back to Prees Heath to release it.

Now that IS dedication considering that you live in Torquay

Jack

If anyone is planning a trip to Fermyn in the near future my advice is to take a good supply of water. The rides are so dry and dusty that the Purple boys are having trouble getting their dose of minerals. A result of this is that they are not staying put for very long, unless they find a choice fox scat (see below) or something similar. So, whether it be in a bottle, bowser or your bladder, don't forget that water.

5 or 6 males seen grounded today, some briefly.

Had my first Gatekeeper of the year this afternoon on Horsenden Hill, west London. Also 8 Marbled Whites (none seen here a week ago), 45+ Meadow Brown, 3 Speckled Wood, 4 Large + 6 Small Skippers, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Comma, Large+ 2 Small Whites. No sign of any Purple Hairstreaks yet.

My first Gatekeepers of the year too at Whisby near Lincoln today. Also lots of Ringlet and Meadow Browns and a few of Small White, GV White, Comma and Large and Small Skipper.

Hugh

Following my report on Large Heaths at Whixall Moss last Wednesday (10th), I continued to Tregaron (Cors Caron NNR) on Friday (12th) to see the polydama form of the species (with a visit to Snowdon summit in the intervening period).

These butterflies were more thinly spread at Tregaron than at Whixall and only passed near the board-walk occasionally, so it was some time before I could find one that could be photographed.
The 'new' reserve car park is further North than the original so, to reach the area favoured by Large Heath, start by walking South along the track-bed of the old railway. Pass the first entrance to the board-walk (under three wooden arches) and continue to the second entrance (through a living willow arch). Scan the heath on each side of the board-walk until it reaches a T-junction, with a short spur to the left, where there is a seat that provides a good spot for scanning.

Mike

It has been a very frustrating few weeks seeing all these reports of Black Hairstreak and Purple Emperors as I am very restricted at the moment due to family issues. I did manage to escape for a short while in the afternoon and I am lucky to have High and Over on the doorstep for these quick fixes!! Marbled Whites are very numerous this year and they are still in good condition, I also had my first Gatekeepers that were very fresh. Small Skippers were also quite numerous. Other interest was from a robberfly of some sort that had remains of its last meal in its grasp and an attractive micro moth the Agapeta Hamana. I returned home much happier having had my butterfly fix!!

I would estimate around 20 males and about 10 female silver-studded blues active at the Bovey Heathfield site in Devon yesterday afternoon, most of the males looked fairly battered but the females looked fresh. This is a really tiny site located away from the main heathland and behind some industrial units and perhaps covers little more than about a acre of land. The butterflies here (to me) also seem to be smaller than usual and perhaps similar in size to the ones seen on Great Ormes Head in North Wales.

Jack Harrison wrote:Wildmoreway

I recollect one instances years ago after I had visited Prees Heath, when I got home I noticed a small butterfly fluttering around in the back window of the car .. it was a female Silver-studded Blue. How it had got into the car I do not know but I drove straight back to Prees Heath to release it.

Now that IS dedication considering that you live in Torquay

Jack

That would be dedication, but bearing in mind that at the time I lived at Crewe (less than 20 miles from Prees Heath) it was not quite as far away as Torquay.

Apologies for belated post. Bentley Woods, Hants/Wilts Border - Thursday. Saw just one Purple Emperor during an all day visit, there were however at least two confirmed sightings by other visitors to the woods. lots of fresh Silver-washed Fritillary and White Admiral. Of note among other species seen were White-letter and Purple Hairstreak.

As PhilB (great PE shot's!) has already posted regarding Fermyn Woods the tracks at Bentley are also baked dry, little or no moisture at all apart from some fast drying out potholes and vehicle ruts below the main track x-roads.

Bill

Yesterday at Langley Park lots of Ringlets, Gatekeepers and Small Skippers. Cheers Sezar

Nigel Kiteley wrote:Prees Heath.

Well over 1,000 Silver Studded Blues seen at Prees Heath over the weekend including many copulating pairs and freshly emerged individuals , some with ants still in attendance.

Silver Studded Blue copy.jpg

Silver Studded Blue3.jpg

Silver Studded Blues2 copy.jpg

Silver Studded Blue4.jpg

Absolutely beautiful, gorgeous, perfect photos.

Visit to Morfa Harlech today - lots of Dark Green Fritillaries, Meadow Browns, Ringlets. Also some Graylings - my first of the year. This picture offered for recording purposes only.

MikeOxon wrote:Following my report on Large Heaths at Whixall Moss last Wednesday (10th), I continued to Tregaron (Cors Caron NNR) on Friday (12th) to see the polydama form of the species (with a visit to Snowdon summit in the intervening period).

Nice photo Mike - which looks very ssp. davus to me - showing just how subjective the allocation of individuals to this cline of subspecies is! Based on geography, I'd agree that this should be ssp. polydama!

Cheers,

- Pete

I'm trying to catch up with some of my sighting reports from the past week or so, this one is from Cors Caron NNR, Tregaron, Cardiganshire on Tuesday 9th. This is the UK's most southerly location for the enigmatic Large Heath and happily my visit coincided with super weather, even allowing for a brisk breeze the conditions were very favourable. As soon as I got out of my car two lady butterflyer's jumped on me they two were looking to see the aforementioned species for the first time, I'm pleased to report that Maggie and Sarah were both delighted to get to see and obtain some nice photographs of Large Heath. It was a pleasure to share your company ladies, I only hope you share your butterflying adventures and sightings with us here at UK Butterflies

My count ended on approximately 30, I tried hard not to duplicate my count but this is a species that uses the grass and heath plants to it's advantage and the poor recorders disadvantage Its the first time I've recorded both heath species at Cors Caron NNR. This is a super reserve and holds lots to keep the dragonfly enthusiasts interest too. I heartily recommend a visit if your anywhere near the area.

Bill

Today took a group to Bookham Common. Highlights included Marbled White, Purple Hairstreak, c10 White Admirals + c15 Silver-washed Fritillaries. Most butterflies weren't settling with the hot, sunny conditions.

I was shown a photo of A Purple Emperor on the ground near the tunnel car park taken about 10 am. When I went to the normal display area in the early afternoon I was surprised to have no sighting in over half an hour. The first time I've dipped here when conditions are warm + sunny. Maybe too hot for them today?

A visit to Botany Bay was the order of the day on Friday, but despite the weather forecast being for heat and sun,myself and Caroline were treated to cool and overcast....for the first 2 hours anyway.Only the bravest Meadow Browns and Ringlets came out to remind us we were in one of the best butterflying spots in the south.The gathering crowd..well 6 of us ,were aware that it was getting warmer and so excitement levels were growing that Purple Emperor would eventually make an appearance.Silver Washed Frits and White Admiral were the first out to play,shortly followed by a larger, darker shape that emerged from the sallow but returned as soon as it had come.Within 5 minutes of this, His Imperial Majesty was on the floor and imbibing himself of minerals on the horse poo on the track.
Iv only seen PE on one previous occasion and that was in the treetops,so i was quite excited by his appearance this time.I let him settle and then approached slowly,expecting him to take flight...but he didnt.He allowed us to approach and take a few pics and as we got closer he turned and revealed his beautiful blue wings to us.I had to stop some ramblers who almost put him up just as he had landed.That would have been sods law..so i was quite keen to point the butterfly out to them..and explained what it was etc.They seemed quite impressed and stayed for the whole 5 minutes that this beautiful male was on the ground.I received news that others were on the ground elsewhere and during the next hour we were treated to many other sitings ,both in the air and on the ground.None of the others i saw on the ground gave me an audience quite like the first one.It was a fantastic day.
Caroline was truly impressed by the Emperor and i received a few brownie points for taking her on one of my butterfly sorties.
Thanks go to the unknown gent who walked the 300 yards to inform me that they had one on the ground in another spot.His efforts were rewarded by HIM who gave a better showing where i was.
Thanks also to Neil Hulme for the "heads up " and for his knowledge, so readily shared. Cheers
Rob

Pete Eeles wrote:looks very ssp. davus to me

Thank you for the comments, Pete. I agree re. the naming and only called it polydama because that is what it's supposed to be . (and it made it nominally different from the ones I'd seen a couple of days before at Whixall)

Since my visit, I've been doing some reading and it appears that polydama is something of a 'catch-all' for anything between clear scotica and clear davus. My books agree that there is no real distinction between these forms and that the genitalia are identical throughout - they really should not be termed as ssp. When I have time, I shall sit down with the type descriptions, which you have provided on the 'species' pages.

Mike

Tantalising glimpses of 2 airborne Purple Emperors at Bentley Woods yesterday along the first ride just before the car park. Another was seen by others in the car park itself but none descended in spite of the ultra-dry conditions.

To compensate, there are male Silver Washed Fritillaries everywhere (certainly over 100 seen) and nice numbers of White Admirals if you look in the shadier places (20-30 observed).

There were also good numbers of White Letter Hairstreak on the mature elms at the crossroads further into the wood. Again, these remained high in the canopy and were only properly visible via binoculars.

Plenty of other species about:

Ringlet (200+)
Meadow Brown (80+)
Large Skipper (40+)
Marbled White (20-30)
Small Skipper (10 or so)
Speckled Wood (10 or so)
Large, Small and Green Veined Whites in smallish numbers
Hedge Brown (2)
Comma (3)
Red Admiral (2)